Friday, September 27, 2013

Graphic Novel Released at Comic Con

Hyderabad Graphic Novel Released at Comic Con Express Hyderabad
Every city has a voice, it just needs a medium to reach people, and Hyderabad Graphic Novel penned by Jai Undurti and Jasraman Grewal is doing the same.
This amazing graphic novel that tells the tale of this four century old city was released at the first Comic Con Express Hyderabad.
AnimationXpress.com had a tete-a-tete with Jai and Jasraman, Writer and Creator of Hyderabad Graphic Novel to know about the interesting aspects of this book.
What is the ‘Hyderabad Graphic Novel’ all about? 
400 years of legends and myths of Hyderabad, weaved together in one narrative is the story line of this graphic novel. Our central premise in this 128 pages book is that “Every City is a Story” and “Every City is a Language” .Our attempt is to ‘translate’ the city into a sequential narrative and comics, which allow the reader to luxuriate on each visual is an ideal medium, unlike film etc where the reader cannot go back.
There must have been some inspiration?
Hyderabad city itself inspired us. Just like “population density” of an area, the “legend density” of Hyderabad is very high. Every street, every stone tells a story. Travelers’ to the city, who want an insight into the soul of a city, not just a travel guide will enjoy this book.

So is it a series of graphic novels?

Yes! This is an “Issue 0, the starting point of a series on Hyderabad. We wish to present certain elemental truths, not just about Hyderabad but cities in general.We wish to continue this concept to other cities like “Bangalore Graphic Novel” or the “Madras Graphic Novel” are waiting to happen.

Can we have a credit run down?

Writers & Creators: Jai Undurti & Jasraman Grewal
Lead Artists: Harsho Mohan Chattoraj & Federico Zumel
Colourist: Neeraj Menon
Letterist: Aditya Bidikar
Designer: Karan Talgeri
Please put light on the making of this book?
Initial ideation and photography for the book began in 2005; project began in earnest in 2010 and was completed by mid-2012. After the initial scripting, the challenge was to get a team together. For example, the second artist Zumel is based in Argentina while Harsho is in Calcutta. Once we got the workflow right, it became a process in which we would take photographs or source other reference images, send them to the artist, then he would send back sketches and thumbnails, which we would use to tweak the script and so on.

Could you share more about the look and feel of the graphic novel?

The book is divided into four stories each having its own look and feel. Harsho has  a muscular, dense style relying on his unique blend of hatching and cross-hatching. Zumel has his equally distinctive style. As the stories are set in different eras, we were able to use these stylistic changes to indicate the changes in the time period. The cover by Mukesh Singh imbues the whole project with a certain classic sensibility and a key strength of the book is the colouring by Neeraj Menon who has given “European” look to this novel with his highly individual and unique palette.
Were there any challenges?
Yes.Our original idea was to crowdsource the anecdotes and legends from long-time residents. That did not work very well because the graphic novel medium is still unfamiliar, so this is an “Issue 0″. We hope that it will spur people to contribute their stories so we can build a sequential narrative around them in the future.
What was the research like?
Hyderabad is a silent co-writer in our project.Photography in the old city, interviews with long-time residents, searching for archival photographs, paintings were researched at this city. Most important was simply taking long, extended walks through the city.
Where can we get it? 
Introductory price for the Special Edition is Rs 500.Right now we have adopted a slightly unorthodox approach – it is available in Cafe Anavila in Hyderabad.We are exploring online retailers too.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

comic relief

Thank god for comic relief

Published: 23rd May 2013 10:47 AM
Last Updated: 23rd May 2013 10:47 AM
With its license to relive the magic of comics and literally wear the mettle of superheroes, the first annual Bangalore Comic Con has much in store for fans of graphic art
Can never get enough of the Caped Crusader and the 75 year old legacy of the blue tights-red cape-superpowers endowed Kal-El? Pledged loyalty to the Star Wars clan or eagerly following the making of the Assassin’s Creed movie? Let your heart go out to the do-righter cowboy Woody when he is faced with having to leave his friends in Toy Story? Pride yourself on being a fan of Goku, from the Dragon Ball Z saga, for only he could kick God’ behind?
Then, block your dates for June 1-2 as the first annual Bangalore Comic Con gears up to unleash a range of comics, international publishers, workshops, book launches and merchandise,  from 11 am - 7 pm, at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, near National Games Village.
Comic lovers are in for a treat as the annual Comic Con arrives in the city just eight months after its travelling edition, the Comic Con Express, chugged into the city last September. “Our Express version saw a footfall of nearly 30,000 last year and this encouraged us to create a dedicated annual event for Bangalore. We also plan to add one new city to our roster each year and this time, the choice is between Pune, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad,” says Jatin Varma, founder, Comic Con India. Varma, along with artist Abhijeet Kini (Angry Maushi) and writer Akshay Dhar (Ground Zero), will speak at a Comic Con exclusive on the emerging trend of self-publishing.
A novel addition to this year’s conference is international presence by way of Cinebook (UK), Darkhorse Comics (USA), Diamond Select Toys (USA), Robot & Spark (UAE) and Renovada Merch (UAE). Comic Con Bangalore also plans to throw open the doors to the world of graphic novel creation through a session with Jerry Pinto of Scholastic, who crafted ‘When Crows are White’. Homeboy George Mathen aka Appupen will present his latest silent novel ‘The Legends of Halahala’ and the makers of Tinkle Digest will share updates on their latest work. A comics quiz by Marrs and an Amar Chitra Katha quiz are also on the cards. Alicia Souza, who regales Bangaloreans with quirky illustrations and quips on her two furry loves, Lola Bear and Charles-B, sees the Comic Con movement giving a much needed thrust to the ‘underground’ comics scene, as she puts it. “It is interesting to see comic lovers being knowledgeable about what they read and more girls joining the comics lovers brigade,” she says.
In an age where graphic storytelling is a niche art, Tejas Menon, a media professional and a serious comics fan, believes Comic Con plays not only brings comic lovers together but also connects closet comic creators with publishers. “What sets apart the international editions of Comic Con from what we have here is the involvement of the movie and the television industry. Production houses host movie panels and screen trailers and exclusive footage of sci-fi and fantasy movies and this promotes the event on a large scale. While movie exclusives and merchandise are crowd pullers, the focus should be on comics,” he adds.
Comic Con India is considering the possibility of including panel discussions on films in the coming two years. “The Indian market does not generate revenues that would encourage international studios to bring in exclusive content. Same applies for popular television shows, as most of them run in syndication, the channels here are not inclined to spend money on bringing down the star cast when the returns are limited. Despite such odds, we are slowly and steadily convincing international companies to take our market seriously and bet on it long term,” explains Varma.
The highlight of Comic Con Bangalore is the costume contest, ‘Cosplay’, that is bound to have comic buffs turning out their wardrobes and running to their neighbours for sabres, capes, masks, et al. And due recognition awaits in the form of assured gifts for all who turn out in costume and five winners, one each from the categories of comic book, anime, animated series, sci-fi and gaming, stand a chance to win a trip to Goa. And 10,000 lucky visitors can stake their claim to a limited edition Comic Con Swag bag.
This one here is definitely no comedy of errors.
LAUNCH PAD
  Title- Julius Caesar Published By: Campfire Publishing
  Title- Aghori- Book#3 (Series of the year nominee) Published By: Holy Cow Entertainment
  Title-  Mixtape Published By: New, upcoming and established creators
  Title- Defective Detectives Published By: Tinkle Tall Tales
  Title-  Shikari Shambu Published By: Tinkle Tall Tales
  Title-  Butterfingers Published By: Tinkle Tall Tales
  Title- The Princely Buffalo Published By: Trendy Toons
  Title-  The Caravan Published By: Anitrax Media
  Title- Ravanayan Finale Published by: Holy Cow Entertainment
  Title- TWELVE Preludes Published by: Manta Ray
  Title- Tamas Published By: Mrinal Rai
Source:-thehansindia.com

Comic Con Hyderabad -2013.

Joker puts a big smile on the city’s face

 | September 23, 2013 |
Joker-puts-a-big-smile-on-the-city’s-face-1
Hyderabad: There was the Batman, the Superman and all other superheroes and villains that exist in the comic cosmos at the first ever Comic Con Express in Hyderabad. But the show-stealer was Joker.
Of the many who assumed the Heath Ledger-look, was Rahul, a student, who waxed eloquent about his hero, his villain, happy that the Express was held in the city.
“I am big fan of Batman, and a bigger fan of Joker. Though I am not participating in the cosplay, I am glad to be a part of the event,“ he said.
The response and attendance were tremendous. About 25,000 people showed up at the two-day event.
Close to 500 people participated in the cosplay that was judged by MTV VJ Jose. There were five categories and the chosen one among the chosen five won a ticket to Goa.
There were workshops and interactive sessions with exclusive launches of comics titles, book signings, competitions.

T-shirts of popular figures were sold out on day one itself. “I wanted to buy the original superman T-shirt, but it was sold out, there was another store which had Joker T-shirts, but my size was sold out,” says Priyanka Reddy.
Organizers were happy with the response the first comic com got in their first visit to Hyderabad.
“Hyderabad’s creativity was on display with many local artists showcasing their work and products with the comics fraternity shoring up here from different parts of the country. We are pleased to be here for ‘Comic Con Express Hyderabad’,” said Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India.
The session that all Hyderabadis loved was the one with the creators of The Hyderabad Graphic Novel, as they took everyone on a journey through the mythical past of their city. A session on The Magical Evolution of Tinkle Studios by Amar Chitra Katha, followed by a fun quiz was equally entertaining and engrossing.


Joker-puts-a-big-smile-on-the-city’s-face

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Comic Con Express Hyderabad

1st ever Comic Con Express Hyderabad a huge hit amongst comics lovers

The 1st ever action packed Comic Con Express Hyderabad organized by Comic Con India received tremendous  response from fans from all age groups over the weekend of September 21-22  at HITEX Exhibition Center, Hyderabad.
The event had stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling comics, graphic novels, merchandise etc. There were Workshops and Interactive Sessions every hour at the dedicated stage area with Exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay(Costume contest).
From Batman to superman to famous manga characters, we witnessed all the superheroes and comic characters come alive  as fans dressed in their favorite costumes!! They not only received attention  from the audiences, but also interesting prizes from Comic Con India.  MTV VJ Jose was there too on Saturday as he judged the show. Each day, winners got chosen from five categories. Both days, One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 got to WIN a GOLDEN TICKET to Goa!!
“We are overwhelmed by the response we have been getting at all Indian Comics Cons.“Hyderabad’s creativity was on display with many local artists showcasing their work and products along with the comics fraternity that came from different parts of our country. We were pleased to come to the city of Nizams with our traveling version of national Indian comics convention – ‘Comic Con Express Hyderabad’. The love and affection shown by the fans is our greatest reward,”
The two day fest saw many interactive and playful sessions, but the one session that all hyderabadis loved was the Session with the Creators of The Hyderabad Graphic Novel, as they took everyone on a journey to the mythical past of their city.  A session on The Magical Evolution of Tinkle Studios by Amar Chitra Katha, followed by a fun quiz was equally entertaining and engrossing.
All the budding artists and publishers in the city got to learn a lot from sessions like Indie Publishers, which discussed its gradual rise in India and session with Harsho Mohan Chattoraj which illustrated different aspects of making comics.
Comic Con Express Hyderabad saw the launch of over 10 titles at this convention. One of India’s best comic book publishers Campfire publishing, released their graphic novelization of  “Pride & Prejudice.” Also, the famous graphic novel titled “ODAYAN” written by Suhas Sundar, which went out of Print, was re-launched by Pop Culture Publishing in partnership with Level 10 comics. Holy Cow Publishing launched their finale comic to their best selling series, “Ravanayan Finale” & Pop Culture publishing launched  “Satya Police” – A graphic novel by the the winners of the first Comic Con India grant given at 1st Comic Con India Awards!

With all the merchandise madness at the convention, Amar Chitra Katha for the  first time ever  brought out merchandise around its popular comics and characters, exclusively at Hyderabad.
If that was not enough, there were some exciting giveaways which included 5000 exclusive Comic Con Express Hyderabad 2013 Limited Edition Swag Bags by Myntra.com, made only for the event to be given to the chosen few!
Some of the leading participants in the Comic Con Express Hyderabad were Amar Chitra Katha,  Campfire Graphic Novels, Scholastic India, DC Comics by Random House, HarperCollins India, Pop Culture Publishing, Holy Cow Entertainment, Mario Miranda Gallery, Level 10 Studios, Chariot Comics, Myntra.com and Green Gold Animation – Chotta Bheem Comics.
“We try to bring Retailers, Publishers, Merchandisers, Writers, Artists, Illustrators etc. from within the Comic, Animation, Gaming, Movies/studios and related communities together and give them a common platform.”Adds, Jatin Varma
Never did the comics’ community in India have a platform where they could meet and interact. Now they do! Comic Con India is a unique event celebrating the illustrated medium, which brings together the whole comics industry and related fields such as Merchandise, Toys, Games, Films and Animation, along with fans of this culture from all age groups.

1st ever Comic Con Express Hyderabad-2013

1st ever Comic Con Express Hyderabad was a huge hit amongst comics lovers!!!




The two day fest saw -

·         Fans dressed in their favorite comic costumes
·         Meet and Greet with Kids Favourite cartoon characters from TInkle and Chhota Bheem!
·         Over 10 exclusive Book launches
·         Over 70 Participants - brought local, national and international content
·         Tons of merchandise!!!
·         There were Special Sessions and Workshops from renowned names in the Industry
·         Lots of Fun activities


Hyderabad, September 25, 2013 – The 1st ever action packed Comic Con Express Hyderabad organized by Comic Con India received tremendous  response from fans from all age groups over the weekend of September 21-22  at HITEX Exhibition Center, Hyderabad.

The event had stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling comics, graphic novels, merchandise etc. There were Workshops and Interactive Sessions every hour at the dedicated stage area with Exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay(Costume contest).


From Batman to superman to famous manga characters, we witnessed all the superheroes and comic characters come alive  as fans dressed in their favorite costumes!! They not only received attention  from the audiences, but also interesting prizes from Comic Con India.  MTV VJ Jose was there too on Saturday as he judged the show. Each day, winners got chosen from five categories. Both days, One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 got to WIN a GOLDEN TICKET to Goa!!

“Hyderabad’s creativity was on display with many local artists showcasing their work and products along with the comics fraternity that came from different parts of our country. We try to bring Retailers, Publishers, Merchandisers, Writers, Artists, Illustrators etc. from within the Comic, Animation, Gaming, Movies/studios and related communities together and give them a common platform. We are overwhelmed by the response we have been getting at all Indian Comics Cons.  We were pleased to come to the city of Nizams with our traveling version of national Indian comics convention - ‘Comic Con Express Hyderabad’.  The love and affection shown by the fans is our greatest reward,” said, Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India.

The two day fest saw many interactive and playful sessions, but the one session that all hyderabadis loved was the Session with the Creators of The Hyderabad Graphic Novel, as they took everyone on a journey to the mythical past of their city.  A session on The Magical Evolution of Tinkle Studios by Amar Chitra Katha, followed by a fun quiz was equally entertaining and engrossing.

All the budding artists and publishers in the city got to learn a lot from sessions like Indie Publishers, which discussed its gradual rise in India and session with Harsho Mohan Chattoraj which illustrated different aspects of making comics.

Comic Con Express Hyderabad saw the launch of over 10 titles at this convention. One of India's best comic book publishers Campfire publishing, released their graphic novelization of  “Pride & Prejudice.” Also, the famous graphic novel titled“ODAYAN” written by Suhas Sundar, which went out of Print, was re-launched by Pop Culture Publishing in partnership with Level 10 comics. Holy Cow Publishing launched their finale comic to their best selling series, “Ravanayan Finale” & Pop Culture publishing launched  “Satya Police” - A graphic novel by the the winners of the first Comic Con India grant given at 1st Comic Con India Awards!

With all the merchandise madness at the convention, Amar Chitra Katha for the  first time ever  brought out merchandise around its popular comics and characters, exclusively at Hyderabad.

If that was not enough, there were some exciting giveaways which included 5000 exclusive Comic Con Express Hyderabad 2013 Limited Edition Swag Bags by Myntra.com, made only for the event to be given to the chosen few!

Some of the leading participants in the Comic Con Express Hyderabad were Amar Chitra Katha,  Campfire Graphic Novels, Scholastic India, DC Comics by Random House, HarperCollins India, Pop Culture Publishing, Holy Cow Entertainment, Mario Miranda Gallery, Level 10 Studios, Chariot Comics, Myntra.com and Green Gold Animation - Chotta Bheem Comics.

Never did the comics’ community in India have a platform where they could meet and interact. Now they do! Comic Con India is a unique event celebrating the illustrated medium, which brings together the whole comics industry and related fields such as Merchandise, Toys, Games, Films and Animation, along with fans of this culture from all age groups.



==================================================================

PS – For any Query or interaction with Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India, pls feel free to call or mail.



For any Queries/Interactions, contact –

Manleen Kaur Mahajan
MKM Communications
0880047786609810920020
manleen@mkmcommunications.com


Kavita Kataria
Assistant PR Manager
MKM Communications
09711335505
kavitak1908@gmail.comKavita@mkmcommunications.com

============================================================


Sales & Footfall Figures - FYI –


 1.  At the 1st Comic Con India in Feb’11, the turnout was approx. 20000 and Sales touched        
 25 Lakhs in 2 days.
2.  At the Comic Con Express Mumbai, the travelling version of Annual Indian Comics  Convention that took place in October '11, the turnout was approx 12000 and Sales touched
30 Lakhs in 2 days.
3. AT the 2nd Comic Con India that took place in Feb’12, the response was amazing, footfall touched 35 thousand and sales touched 50 lakhs in 3 days.
4. Last year the traveling version of Comic Con India went to a new city - the Technology capital of India – Bangalore in Sept ‘12, the turnout was approx 35000 and the sales crossed over 65 Lakhs in 2 days.
5.  At the 1st ever “Mumbai Film and Comic Con” that took place last year in Mumbai in Oct‘12, the turnout was approx 26000 and the sales crossed over 45 Lakhs in 2 days.
6. AT the 3rd Comic Con India that took place in Feb’13, the response was tremendous, footfall touched 50 thousand and sales touched crore in 3 days.
7. At the 1st ever annual “Bangalore Comic Con” that took place in Bangalore in June’ 13, the turnout was approx 62000 and the sales touched 1 crore 25 Lakhs in 2 days.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Krrish Comics

Graphic India and Filmkraft Productions to Launch “Krrish Comics”

Graphic India and Filmkraft Productions announced today the launch of an original digital comic series and comic magazine called “Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men.”
Krrish: Menace of the Monkey Men, will be released as a comic book magazine available in stores later this year and also be converted into an animated mobile comic that will be released as weekly chapters through an exclusive Krrish Comics App, which will be launched by Hungama Digital, Filmkraft Productions (digital partner for Krrish 3. Carving Dreams was responsible for securing the deal between Filmkraft Productions, Graphic India and Hungama Digital.
Superstar actor and Krrish star, Hrithik Roshan commented, “As we get ready for Krrish 3, I am pleased to announce this bonus never before seen Krrish story from Graphic India, the leader in Comics for India, and Hungama, the first name in digital mobile. We’re working with an international team of comic book superstars so you can experience Krrish in a whole new way.”
“Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan have created a hero that has captured the imaginations of millions across India. We are thrilled to be partnering with Filmkraft Productions and Hungama to continue the exploits of Krrish, in the natural extension of comic books, which is a perfect fit for any superhero.”
Graphic India Co-Founder & CEO, Sharad Devarajan added. “Through digital comics Krrish can now fly straight from the big screen and into the small screen of mobile devices, reaching his millions of fans.”
Filmkraft Productions Founder and acclaimed producer and Director, Rakesh Roshan said, “As we get ready to launch Krrish 3, one of the most ambitious movies in Indian history, a compelling comic book program based on the Krrish superhero is essential. Graphic India’s quality and production standards make them the perfect choice for us to partner with on this exciting expansion of the Krrish franchise.”
The story features an action-packed original adventure of Krrish written and illustrated by legendary comic book creators, Tom De Falco, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema, who have worked on leading comic book characters such as Spider-Man, Spider-Girl, Superman, Thor, The Avengers and countless others. The talents were recruited by Graphic India who is working with leading comic book, film and animation partners from around the world.
Neeraj Roy, MD & CEO, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment said, “Krrish after capturing the hearts and minds of the nation is now ready to gain cult status with its first comic book magazine. We are proud to come on board as the Digital Partner for Krrish 3, and work with Filmkraft Productions and Graphic India, not to mention our long relationship with Carving Dreams. Our digital distribution strategy will take Krissh closer to every fan. The Krrish franchise is definitely now in the league of international superheroes a new generation is growing up with.”
Afsar Zaidi, CEO – Carving Dreams said, “With the launch of Krrish comics, a milestone has been achieved in the rapidly growing space of Indian comics. Carving dreams is proud to be a part of the very first physical and motion comic created out of India’s biggest superhero franchise. The Krrish Brand has taken a quantum leap with the current installment of the franchise and to position that with the right kind of image in the comic space we got Filmkraft Productions, Graphic India and Hungama Digital together to work on this creative association.”

A Cop and his comics

A Cop and his comics

PRIYADERSHINI S.
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  • Motor Vehicles Inspector Gokul Gopalakrishnan is the creator of comic strip Small Talk and other comic panels. Photo: K.K. Mustafah
    The HinduMotor Vehicles Inspector Gokul Gopalakrishnan is the creator of comic strip Small Talk and other comic panels. Photo: K.K. Mustafah
  • Gokul Gopalakrishnan's comic strip.
    The HinduGokul Gopalakrishnan's comic strip.
  • Gokul Gopalakrishnan's comic strip.
    The HinduGokul Gopalakrishnan's comic strip.

Gokul Gopalakrishnan makes symbiotic bedfellows of policing and cartooning.

Far from a cop’s black and white world of right and wrong, of law and order, Motor Vehicles Inspector Gokul Gopalakrishnan’s world is one where people inhabit grey areas and speak their mind. He is the creator of comic strip, Small Talk, which appears in a national daily, and of As City Is, which had a one year run in a Mumbai based daily, and is contributor to the single page stories, The Small Picture for a financial paper. He is also a contributor to Mixtape an anthology of comic shorts, whose second volume was launched in the city this weekend.
Though political cartooning and comic books have a substantial history of evolution in India, alterative comics began a decade ago with the graphic novel being its most elaborate form. Indie Comics, a part of this progression, is an emerging genre and Gokul is a versatile player of these mediums.
Though policing and caricaturing may seem to be strange bedfellows, for Gokul they are symbiotic, thriving because of each other. His talent as a raconteur is compounded by his humour in uniform. It makes him a character as interesting as the ones he creates. “Humour is the most shared thing. I don’t spare myself either,” he says making little about throwing satire back on himself.
Many themes
But Gokul’s works are not all in lighter vein. He deals with politics, social scenarios, culture and emotions with maturity and depth. A fine example of his succinct expression is in The Sea Within, inMixtape 2, where he catches the delicate nuances of the loneliness and happiness of a homemaker. “My profession brings me in contact with all kinds of people. Real life is magical. It is fantastic, more than fantasy,” he says about his inspiration from real life stories.
Hailing from Thrissur, Gokul graduated in Sociology and did his Masters in English Literature. While pursuing his MPhil at CIEFL Hyderabad he researched on the evolution of the narrative in a graphic novel. Meanwhile he secured a job with the Motor Vehicles Department and settled in. In 2009 he began with a cartoon strip for a newspaper and got in touch with Comix India, an alternative comic movement. His panel ‘Small Talk’ dealt with anthropomorphic characters where a python and a vulture spoke like human beings. “I observe keenly. Recently I felt strongly about our society’s fascist leanings. The characters comment on the creator too,” says Gokul who enjoys the non-linear form of narrative where the panels allow for a to and fro movement. Gokul explains this freedom. “Unlike a sequence in a film, the comic strip allows flexibility. A text and an image need not go hand in hand. Take these disparate narrative modes and play with it.”
The sound of open space
He enjoys the fact that the comic form empowers the reader to derive meaning from the open ended and tentative spaces, which he intentionally draws. “The image need not always complement the text. Besides, this visual-textual storytelling form induces an auditory sense. You almost hear.”
Gokul began developing comic strips in Malayalam but met with disappointment as his works were not published. “A comic strip needs continuity in publication otherwise it does not make sense,” he says stating that G. Aravindan’s Cheriya Manushyarum, Valiya Lokavum , which covers a span of 12 years (1961-73), a precursor to the graphic novel, was a huge influence along with cartoonist Seth from Canada.
With Comic Cons being held regularly which draw the young and urbane populace, Gokul says, “The comic scene in India is better that it used to be. Readership is slowly building. In India, we started of well with graphic novels being published by mainstream publishers and gaining critical attention but, since then we see a consolidation of the superhero/mythology variety, actually overriding whatever limited success Indian graphic novels have achieved in the last decade. The Comic Cons see a lot of business but it is an over-sale of merchandise and is not really translating into good comics being promoted.”
Gokul has written 12 stories and is on to illustrating them. His work process, like his comic strips, is non-linear. Thrissur inspires him. An eight-page story on his ancestral home and one on The Pen Hospital in Thrissur are in completion stage. The latter is set to be published next month in Pulp Quarterly by a Mumbai-based publisher. His hometown also reminds him of the colour green which he says will enter his work, hitherto in black and white, at some point. Till then he continues to police society with a keen eye of an officer and an artiste commenting strongly, delicately, wittily but always sensitively.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

stories untold.

Sketching stories untold

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  • For Art’s Sake : Illustrations in “The Pursuit” by artist Rupesh Aravindakshan PHOTOS: By special arrangement
    For Art’s Sake : Illustrations in “The Pursuit” by artist Rupesh Aravindakshan PHOTOS: By special arrangement
  • For Art’s Sake : Manta Ray's core team members Pratheek and Tina Thomas PHOTO: THULASI KAKKAT
    For Art’s Sake : Manta Ray's core team members Pratheek and Tina Thomas PHOTO: THULASI KAKKAT
  • Artists Rupesh Aravindakshan and Anil K.S.
    Artists Rupesh Aravindakshan and Anil K.S.
  • For Art’s Sake : The cover of “Mixtape 2” PHOTO: By special arrangement
    For Art’s Sake : The cover of “Mixtape 2” PHOTO: By special arrangement

Manta Ray’s comic anthology, ‘Mixtape 2’, shines the spotlight on stories worth telling and the artists who create them

Pratheek and Tina Thomas, core team members of indie publishing house Manta Ray (MaRa), were at a cafe when an artist friend, Roshan, gave them a few well-worn, dog-eared pages. There unfolded a poignant story of an unassuming mother and her baby, set in Thiruvananthapuram railway station. Between the mess and squalor of frequented platforms, between policemen and immigrants, old Hindi music and fresh newspaper cuttings, lay a Malayalam tale of enduring love named Amma. Creator Anil K.S.’s first published work, Amma features in Mixtape 2, the second volume of MaRa’s anthologies which seeks to amplify new, unknown and unusual voices in the Indian comic scene.
A step ahead
Besides AmmaMixtape 2 contains four other stories penned and illustrated by creators almost all of whom are from Kerala. No wonder then, that the Bangalore-based publishers chose Kochi to officially launch the anthology. In true MaRa style, each of Mixtape 2’s stories is radically different from the next. “When we first came out with Mixtape 1, it was an experiment which we were floating. It was well-received and we were determined to raise the bar with Mixtape 2,” says Pratheek. While the first volume featured four stories, each between four and 10 pages, the second has five of varying lengths, some quite elaborate, with the artists given freedom to choose their depth of detail. What has remained constant though, is MaRa’s determination to tell real, human stories — “In our world, no one leaps over buildings, walks through walls or saves humanity from destruction,” reads their website.
Artists Rupesh Aravindakshan and Anil K.S.

Mixtape 2 opens with a police-and-don chase, The Pursuit, written by Pratheek’s brother Vivek Thomas and drawn entirely in violent, black-and-white pencil sketches by Rupesh Aravindakshan. The second story The Sea Within is a single poetic sentence written and inked by police officer and artist Gokul Gopalakrishnan. Anti-social Networking is Roshan’s stark take on our uber-networked lives, and Sunshine is a bizarre story by Anupam Arunachalam, with art by Manoj Menon. Says Tina, “Mixtape is edited by Pratheek and I, with core team member and artist Prabha Mallya. While I prefer stories with a more personal touch, Pratheek enjoys more noir, dark narratives, and Prabha likes non-linear ones which push artistic boundaries as well. So between us, we manage a volume that has something for everyone,” says Tina.
For Art’s Sake : The cover of “Mixtape 2” PHOTO: By special arrangement


Thus far both volumes of Mixtape have contained stories that MaRa has come across through the comics network, by word of mouth or through friends of creator friends. There have even been contributions by appreciative readers, but MaRa has yet to officially call for submissions. “For the first few editions we would like to establish a certain standard of story-telling before we throw open the floor,” says Pratheek. Their stories have also not centred around similar themes but Tina says, several issues down the line, they may launch themed editions, like a science-fiction-only edition. “Besides fronting new talent, we also wanted Mixtape to be a platform for familiar names like Anupam and Roshan. Sincethe comic scene in India is still young, unless you publish entire novels, opportunities for short stories are few, since anthologies like these are rare,” says Pratheek.
Mixtape 3 is currently in the making but the MaRa team is now working toward publicising their existing body of work, which includes, among others, a mini graphic novel Hush, a graphic novel seriesTwelve, and over two years of a weekly full page comic named The Small Picture written for a financial newspaper. “Most publishers of comics reach audiences in India’s metros, and that too primarily Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. What we’ve realised though, is that India’s tier-two cities are growing hubs of comics readers and creators. There are top art and design institutions in such cities. And even if their students are interested in working with comics for life, as alumni, they invariably join advertising firms and the like, because there aren’t enough forums to encourage and publish their work. We hopeMixtape will be able to fill that gap,” says Pratheek.
What Mixtape has achieved for MaRa so far, is to make it a household name within art and comic circles for quality work that is unafraid to experiment. ‘An Evening with Manta Ray’ in Kochi will showcase over 40 prints of MaRa’s art work thus far, alongside a sale of their books and the official launch of Mixtape 2. Many of Mixtape 2’s creators will also be there and five of them will present a live art demonstration. The event will be at Cafe Papaya on September 22, Sunday, at 6 30 p.m. For details, contact: 98950-19900
A word from the creators
Rupesh Aravindakshan
Automobile designer Rupesh Aravindakshan’s work in The Pursuit breaks all rules of traditional comic panelling with characters leaping over and across panel frames. “Vivek’s story required that kind of tough, gritty, hand-held and rough feel to both the characters and the layout of the page,” says Rupesh. The entire comic was created with pencil and paper with no digital work involved, which Rupesh says was a relief in the digitised art world. The appreciation for his work, here and in The Small Picture, has opened up other avenues for him, which he says was a pleasant surprise.
Anil K.S.
Anil has been drawing right from childhood and his day job in the animation world has ensured he continues to do so today. Amma was drawn from a true-life incident during Anil’s night travels in Kerala. “I wanted to create the multi-cultural texture of railway stations, so Amma blends Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali and English over 10 pages that even require you to read them upside down!” Besides Manta Ray, Anil has worked for Penguin publishers and is currently working on a series of comics paying homage to Fort Kochi.